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JUNE
1914
POLITICAL
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NAVAL
& MARITIME (including transporting
troops, and landings)
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Sunday
28th
- The Archduke Franz Ferdinand
assassinated at Sarajevo.
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JULY
1914
POLITICAL
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NAVAL
& MARITIME
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WEDNESDAY
1st JULY
Sunday
5th
- The Kaiser receives at Potsdam special
envoy from Austrian Emperor and promises
"the full support of Germany" in the event
of Austrian action against Serbia. He
consults his military and naval advisers
before, leaving for a cruise in northern
waters.
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MONDAY 6th
JULY
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MONDAY
13th JULY
Tuesday
14th
- Council of Austro-Hungarian Ministers
finally determine on action against
Serbia.
Sunday
19th
- Council of Austro-Hungarian Ministers
approve of draft ultimatum to Serbia.
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MONDAY
20th JULY
Thursday
23rd
- Austro-Hungarian Government send
ultimatum to Serbia (see 25th).
Friday
24th
- German Government submit note to Entente
Governments approving Austrian ultimatum
to Serbia (see 23rd).
24th
- British Foreign Minister (Sir E. Grey)
initiates proposals for an international
conference in order to avert war (see 27th
and 28th).
24th
- Belgian Government declare that, in the
event of war, Belgium will uphold her
neutrality "whatever the consequences"
(see 31st).
Saturday
25th
- Serbian Government order Mobilisation
(see 23rd).
25th
- Austria-Hungary severs diplomatic
relations with Serbia. Austro-Hungarian
Minister leaves Belgrade (see 26th).
25th
- Serbian Government transferred from
Belgrade to Nish (see November 3rd, 1915).
Sunday
26th
- Austro-Hungarian Government order
Partial Mobilisation as against
Serbia (see 28th and 31st).
26th
- Montenegrin Government order
Mobilisation (see August 5th).
26th
- The Kaiser returns from the Baltic to
Berlin (see 5th).
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ROYAL
NAVY
26th
- British Admiralty countermand orders for
dispersal of Fleets (see 28th).
HMS "Dreadnought", battleship, in 1906 (Maritime
Quest)
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MONDAY
27th JULY
27th
- French and Italian Governments accept
British proposals for an international
conference (see 24th).
Tuesday
28th
- Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
(see 25th and 26th).
28th
- German Government reject British
proposals for an international conference
(see 24th and 27th).
Wednesday
29th
- Russian Government order Partial
Mobilisation as against Austria. (Evening)
- Russian Minister for War orders General
Mobilisation without the knowledge of the
Tsar (see 30th and 31st).
29th
- Hostilities commence between
Austria-Hungary and Serbia: Belgrade
bombarded by Austrian artillery (see 25th,
and December 2nd).
29th
- German Government make proposals to
secure British neutrality (see 30th).
29th
- British War Office send out telegrams
ordering "Precautionary Period" (2.10
p.m.).
Thursday
30th
- The Tsar signs order at 4 p.m. for
mobilisation of Russian army (see 20th and
31st).
30th
- British Government reject German
proposals for British neutrality (see
20th).
Friday
31st
- Belgian Government order Mobilisation
(see 24th).
31st
- Russian Government order General
Mobilisation (gee 29th and 30th).
31st
- Austro-Hungarian Government order
General Mobilisation (see 26th and 28th).
31st
- German Government send ultimatum to
Russia (presented at midnight, August 1st)
(see August 1st).
31st
- State of "Kriegsgefahr" proclaimed in
Germany (see August 1st).
31st
- Turkish Government order Mobilisation
(to commence August 3rd) (see October
29th).
31st
- London Stock Exchange closed (see
January 4th, 1915).
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GERMAN NAVY
27th
- German High Seas Fleet recalled from
Norway to war bases.
S.M.S.
"Derfflinger", battlecruiser (Maritime
Quest)
ROYAL
NAVY
28th
- British Fleets ordered to war bases (see
26th).
29th
- British Admiralty send "Warning
Telegram" to the Fleets.
ROYAL
AUSTRALIAN NAVY
30th
- Australian Government place Australian
Navy at disposal of British. Admiralty.
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AUGUST
1914
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POLITICAL
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WESTERN
EUROPE
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EASTERN
& SOUTHERN EUROPE
|
ASIA
& AFRICA
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NAVAL
& MARITIME
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SATURDAY
1st AUGUST
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DIPLOMACY
1st
- German Government order General
Mobilisation and declare war on Russia
(see July 31st).
1st
- French Government order General
Mobilisation.
Sunday
2nd
- German Government send ultimatum to
Belgium demanding passage through Belgian
territory (see 3rd, and July 24th).
BRITAIN
2nd
- Moratorium proclaimed in Great Britain
(see November 4).
GERMANY
2nd
- General von Moltke (Chief of the Great
General Staff since 1906) appointed Chief
of the General Staff of the German Field
Armies (see September 14th).
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WESTERN
FRONT
Sunday
2nd
- German troops cross
frontier of Luxembourg (see
November 20th, 1918).
2nd
- Hostilities commence on French frontier.
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EASTERN
FRONT
1st
- Hostilities commence on Polish frontier.
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ROYAL
NAVY
1st
- British Government order Naval
Mobilisation.
2nd
- British Government guarantee naval
protection of French coasts against German
aggression by way of the North Sea or
English Channel.
BALTIC
2nd
- Libau bombarded by German cruiser
"Augsburg" (see November 17th).
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MONDAY 3rd
AUGUST
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DIPLOMACY
3rd
- Belgian Government refuse German demands
(see 2nd and 4th).
3rd
- British Government guarantee armed
support to Belgium should Germany violate
Belgian neutrality.
3rd
- Germany declares war on France.
3rd
- British Government order General
Mobilisation.
3rd
- Italy declares neutrality.
Tuesday
4th
- British Government send ultimatum to
Germany. Great Britain declares war on
Germany at 11 p.m. (midnight 4th-5th by
Central European time).
4th
- Belgium severs diplomatic relations with
Germany (see 2nd and 3rd). Germany
declares war on Belgium.
4th
- Secret Alliance between Germany and
Turkey signed at Berlin.
Wednesday
5th
- Montenegro declares war on
Austria-Hungary (see July 26th).
Thursday
6th
- Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia.
(Declaration presented at St. Petersburg).
6th
- Serbia declares war on Germany (see July
28th).
Saturday
8th
- Montenegro severs diplomatic relations
with Germany. "State of War" commences
between Montenegro and Germany (see 5th).
8th
- Swiss Government order Mobilisation.
9th
- Belgian Government proposal for
neutralisation of African free trade zone
formulated (see 22nd).
BRITAIN
5th
- First meeting of British War Council
(Formed to exercise the functions of the
Committee of Imperial Defence, but with
additional executive powers.) (see
May 14th, 1915).
6th
- Field-Marshal Earl Kitchener succeeds
Mr. Asquith as Secretary of State for War,
Great Britain. (Mr. Asquith held the
appointment from March 31st, 1914) (See
June 5th, 1916.)
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WESTERN
FRONT
Tuesday
4th
- German troops cross Belgian frontier and
attack Liege (see 3rd and 7th, and
November 26th, 1918).
4th
- Staff of British Expeditionary Force
appointed: — Commander-in-Chief:
Field-Marshal Sir John French (see
December 15th, 1915); Chief of General
Staff: Lieut.-General
Sir Archibald Murray (see January 24th.
1915); Adjutant-General: Lieut.-General
Sir Nevil Macready (see February 21st,
1916); Quartermaster-General:
Lieut.-General Sir William Robertson (see
January 24th, 1915).
Thursday
6th
- "Battle of the Frontiers" (General
name covering all operations of the French
armies up to the Battle of the Marne)
begins in France.
Friday
7th
- City of Liege occupied by German forces
(see 4th and 10th).
7th
- French troops cross the frontier of
Alsace (see 2nd).
Saturday
8th
- Mulhouse (Alsace) occupied by French
forces (see 7th and 11th).
AVIATION
4th
- Two German airships pass over Brussels
by night (first hostile act in the air).
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EASTERN
FRONT
3rd
- The Grand Duke Nicholas appointed
Commander-in-Chief Russian armies (see
14th).
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WEST
AFRICA
8th
- British forces cross
frontier of Togoland and occupy
Lome (see 13th and 20th).
Escape of "Karlsrühe"
and "Emden" (Corbett, Vol 1, pp50)
S.M.S. Prinz Eitel
Frederich in civilian service
(Photo Ships)
HMS Amphion
(Navy Photos/Bruce Constable)
S.M.S. Goeben (Photo
Ships)
Dar Es
Salaam Harbour (shows operations on 28
November 1914)
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CONTRABAND
CONTROL
4th
- British Government issue Proclamation
specifying articles to be treated as
contraband (see 20th, and September 21st).
BRITISH
TROOP MOVEMENTS
7th
- First units of British Expeditionary
Force land in France (see 10th).
ALLIED
NAVIES
6th
- Naval Convention between France and
Great Britain concluded in London. French
Admiral to command Allied Naval Forces in
the Mediterranean. (See November 9th.)
ROYAL
NAVY
3rd
- British Government issue Proclamation
authorising requisition of shipping (by
Royal Navy).
4th
- British Grand Fleet constituted under
Admiral Sir John Jellicoe (see November
29th and December 4th. 1916).
CRUISER
WARFARE
4th
- German armed merchant cruiser "Kaiser
Wilhelm der Grosse" leaves Bremen (see
26th).
6th
- Action between H.M.S. "Bristol" and
German cruiser "Karlsruhe" in the West
Indies (see November 4th). (plan
- upper left)
6th
- German armed merchant cruiser "Prinz
Eitel Friedrich" (left) leaves
Tsingtau (see January 28th and April 8th,
1915).
U-BOAT
WARFARE
9th
- H.M.S. "Birmingham" sinks German
submarine "U.-15"
in the North Sea. (First submarine
destroyed.)
MINE
WARFARE
5th
- Minelaying in the open sea commenced by
the Germans, east of Southwold (see
October 3rd). German minelayer "Konigin
Luise" sunk.
6th
- H.M.S. "Amphion" sunk by mine off
Yarmouth. (left)
MARITIME
AVIATION
9th
- British aerial cross-Channel patrol for
the protection of transports instituted.
MEDITERRANEAN
4th
- German warships "Goeben" and "Breslau"
bombard Philippeville and Bona
respectively (see 7th and 11th).
7th
- Action between H.M.S. "Gloucester" and
the "Goeben" (upper
left) and
"Breslau" off the coast of Greece (see 4th
and 11th).
EAST
AFRICA
8th
- Hostilities commence in East Africa (see
15th). H.M.S. "Astraea" bombards Dar es
Salaam (see September 4th, 1916). (plan
- left)
PACIFIC
6th
- Admiral von Spee's squadron,
"Scharnhorst" (flag), "Gneisenau,"
"Nurnberg" joined on October l2th and 14th
respectively by "Dresden" and ''Leipzig",
leaves Ponape, Caroline islands (see
September 22nd).
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MONDAY
10th AUGUST
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DIPLOMACY
10th
- France severs diplomatic relations with
Austria-Hungary (see 12th).
Wednesday
12th
- Great Britain and France declare war on
Austria-Hungary (see 10th).
Friday
14th
- Proclamation issued by Russian
Commander-in-Chief (The Grand Duke
Nicholas) promising autonomy to Poland
(see April 3rd, 1915).
Saturday
15th
- Japanese Government send ultimatum to
Germany demanding evacuation of Tsingtau
(see 23rd, and September 2nd).
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WESTERN
FRONT
Tuesday
11th
- Mulhouse retaken by German forces (see
8th and 19th).
Friday
14th
- Battles of Morhange and Sarrebourg
begin (see 20th)
Sunday
16th
- Last forts of Liege captured by German
forces (16th/17th) (see 4th and 7th).
AVIATION
13th
- Four squadrons Royal Flying Corps fly
from Dover to France. (First units to
cross by air.)
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EASTERN
FRONT
SERBIAN
FRONT
12th
- Austrian forces cross the Save and seize
Shabatz (see 25th).
13th
- Austrian forces cross River
Drina and begin first invasion of
Serbia (see 25th).
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EAST
AFRICA (plan - below)
15th
- German troops cross frontier of British
East Africa and occupy Taveta (see 8th.
November 2nd, and March 10th, 1916).
The
Coast of East Africa
WEST
AFRICA
13th
- Allied advance on Kamina (Togoland) from
Lome begins (see 8th and 26th).
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CONTRABAND
CONTROL
11th
- French Government issue first list of
contraband (see 25th and November 6th).
BRITISH
TROOP MOVEMENTS
16th
- Landing of original British
Expeditionary Force (4 Divisions and 1
Cavalry Division) in France completed
(announced August 18th) (see 7th).
MARITIME
AVIATION
10th
- British aerial coast patrol established.
ADRIATIC
15th
- Junction of British and French squadrons
effected at
entrance to the Adriatic.
16th
- Naval action in the Southern Adriatic:
Austrian light cruiser "Zenta" sunk by
Allied squadron.
AEGEAN
11th
- German warships "Goeben" and "Breslau"
enter the Dardanelles (see 4th and 7th).
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MONDAY
17th AUGUST
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DIPLOMACY
Saturday
22nd
- Austria-Hungary declares war on Belgium
(see 28th).
22nd
- German Government agree to Belgian
proposal, made through Spanish Government,
re African free trade zone (see
9th, and November 20th).
Sunday
23rd
- Germany severs diplomatic relations with
Japan (see 15th).
23rd
- Japan declares war on Germany (see
15th).
BRITAIN
21st
- British Government issue orders for the
raising of the first New Army of six
Divisions (see May 9th, 1915).
BELGIUM
17th
- Belgian Government transferred from
Brussels to Antwerp (see October 7th).
VATICAN
20th
- Death of Pope Pius X (see September
3rd).
PERSIA
18th
- Vossuq ed Doulch, Persian Foreign
Minister, resigns. (Appointed January
11th, 1913.) (See 19th, and August 29th,
1916.)
19th
- Ala es Sultaneh, Persian Prime Minister,
resigns (appointed January 11th, 1913) and
is appointed Foreign Minister (see 18th,
and February 20th, 1915). Mustaufi ul
Mamalek appointed Persian Prime Minister
(see March 14th, 1915).
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WESTERN
FRONT
Tuesday
18th
- Battle of the Gette, Belgium
(18th/19th).
Wednesday
19th
- Belgian Army retreats from the Gette on
Antwerp.
19th
- Mulhouse again taken by French forces
(see 11th and 25th).
Thursday
20th
- Brussels occupied by German forces (see
November 18th, 1918).
20th
- Battles of Morhange and Sarrebourg
end (see 14th).
20th
- Longwy invested by German forces (see
26th).
Friday
21st
- German forces begin attack on Namur (see
25th).
21st
- Battle of Charleroi begins (see
24th).
Saturday
22nd
- Battle of the Ardennes begins (see
24th).
Sunday
23rd
- Battle of Mons (see 24th).
AVIATION
23rd
- German airship "Z.-8"
shot down in the Vosges.
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EASTERN
FRONT
20th
- Battle of Gawaiten-Gumbinnen (East
Prussia) (19th/20th).
23rd
- Battle of Tannenberg begins (see
31st).
23rd
- First Battle of Krasnik (Poland)
begins (see 25th).
23rd
- General von Hindenburg takes over
command of German Eighth Army (see
September 18th).
SERBIAN
FRONT
First
Austrian invasion of Serbia continues.
17th
- Battle of the Tser and the Jadar
(Serbia) begins (see 13th).
21st
- Battle of the Tser and the Jadar ends.
Austrian Armies in Serbia retreat.
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WEST
AFRICA
23rd
- General C. M. Dobell appointed to
command Allied land forces operating in
the Cameroons.
(link to British
despatches, RN awards and casualties)
SOUTH
WEST AFRICA
21st
- German forces from German South-West
Africa cross frontier
of British South Africa (see September
19th).
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LAWS
OF NAVAL WAR
20th
- First British Order in Council revising
"Declaration of London" issued (see
October 29th).
EMPIRE
TROOP MOVEMENTS
19th
- First unit of Indian Expeditionary Force
"C" (This unit, the 29th Punjabis, was the
first to leave India for any theatre of
war) leaves India for East Africa (see
September 1st).
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MONDAY
24th AUGUST
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DIPLOMACY
24th
- Austria-Hungary severs diplomatic
relations with Japan (see 25th).
Tuesday
25th
- Japan severs diplomatic relations with
Austria-Hungary (see 24th). Japan declares
"State of War" with Austria-Hungary.
Friday
28th
- Austro-Hungarian declaration of war
received by Belgian Government (see 22nd).
FRANCE
26th
- M. Messimy, French Minister for War
(appointed June 14th, 1914) resigns (see
27th). M. Delcasse succeeds M. Doumergue
as French Foreign Minister (appointed
August 3rd, 1914).
27th
- M. Millerand appointed French Minister
for War (see 26th, and October 29th,
1915).
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WESTERN
FRONT
24th
- British army retreats from Mons (see
23rd, and September 5th).
24th
- Battle of Charleroi ends (see
21st).
24th
- Battle of the Ardennes ends (see 22nd).
Tuesday
25th
- Namur captured by German forces (see
21st, and November 21st, 1918.)
25th
- Battle of the Meuse begins (see
28th).
25th
- Battle of Malines begins (see 27th).
25th
- Valenciennes taken by German forces (see
November 3rd, 1918).
25th
- Maubeuge invested by German forces (see
September 7th).
25th
- Battle of the Mortagne (Vosges)
begins (see September 3rd).
25th
- Mulhouse again retaken by German forces
(see 19th, and November 17th, 1918)
Wednesday
26th
- Louvain sacked by German troops.
26th
- Battle of Le Cateau.
26th
- Noyon taken by German forces (see
September 21st).
26th
- Longwy capitulates to German forces (see
20th).
26th
- Cambrai occupied by German forces (see
November 20th, 1917, and October 9th,
1918).
26th
- Douai occupied by German forces (see
October 17th, 1918).
26th
- General Gallieni appointed Governor of
Paris (see October 30th, 1915).
Thursday
27th
- Battle of Malines ends (see 25th).
27th
- Lille occupied by German cavalry (see
September 5th).
27th
- Mezieres occupied by German forces (see
November 10th, 1918).
Friday
28th
- Battle of the Meuse ends (see
25th).
Saturday
29th
- Arras evacuated bv the French forces
(see September 30th).
29th
- First Battle of Guise begins (see 30th).
29th
- Sedan taken by German forces (see
November 6th. 1918).
Sunday
30th
- Laon, La Fere, and Roye occupied by
German forces (see March 17th, 1917, and
October 13th, 1918).
30th
- First Battle of Guise ends (see 29th,
and November 4th, 1918).
AVIATION
25th
- First use of aircraft for patrol
purposes (over retreating British forces
in France).
30th
- First German aeroplane raid on Paris
(see September 16th, 1918)
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EASTERN
FRONT
Battle
of Tannenberg continues.
25th
- First Battle of Krasnik (Poland)
ends (see 23rd).
26th
- First Battle of Lemberg (Galicia)
begins (see 30th).
26th
- Battle of Zamosc-Komarow begins
(see September 2nd).
30th
- First Battle of Lemberg (Galicia)
ends (see 26th, and September 3rd).
SERBIAN
FRONT
25th
- Shabatz (see 12th) retaken by Serbian
forces. Last Austrian forces recross the
Drina (see 13th). End of First
Austrian invasion of Serbia (see
September 8th).
AVIATION
29th
- German airship "Z.-5"
brought down by gunfire at Mlawa (Poland).
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WEST
AFRICA
25th
- Nigerian frontier of the Cameroons
crossed by British forces. Affair of Tepe.
Chad frontier crossed by French forces.
26th
- German forces in Togoland capitulate to
the Allied forces (see 8th, 13th and
31st).
27th
- First attack on Mora (Cameroons) (see
September 8th, 1915).
30th
- First attack on Garua (Cameroons) (see
April 18th, 1915).
(link to British
despatches, RN awards and casualties)
|
CONTRABAND
CONTROL
25th
- French Government issue new decree
defining contraband (see 11th, and
November 6th).
EMPIRE
TROOP MOVEMENTS
24th
- First units of Indian Expeditionary
Force "A" leave Bombay for France (in
first place for Egypt) (see September
26th).
CRUISER
WARFARE
26th
- Action between H.M.S. "Highflyer" and
German armed merchant cruiser "Kaiser
Wilhelm der Grosse" (left Bremen on August
4th) off the Rio de Oro: latter sunk (see
August 4).
NORTH
SEA
28th
– Battle of Heligoland. German
light cruisers "Koln," "Mainz," and
"Ariadne" (below - Cyberheritage/
Terry Phillips) sunk by British
squadron.
(link
to British despatch, awards and
casualties)
BELGIUM
27th
- British Marines landed at Ostend,
accompanied by R.N.A.S. unit.
BALTIC
26th
- Naval action off the Aaland Islands.
German cruiser "Magdeburg " destroyed by
Russian squadron.
PACIFIC
30th
– German Samoa occupied by New Zealand
Expeditionary Force.
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MONDAY
31st AUGUST
|
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DIPLOMACY
31st
- Franco-British Agreement defining
provisional zones in Togoland concluded
(see 26th, and December 27th, 1916).
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WESTERN
FRONT
31st
- Amiens entered by German forces (see
September 13th).
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EASTERN
FRONT
Battle
of Zamosc-Komarow continues.
31st
- Battle of Tannenberg ends (see
23rd).
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MERCHANT
SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral ships
lost to enemy submarines, mines and
cruisers etc in the month - 46 ships of
67,000 tons gross (Lloyd's War Losses)
|
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SEPTEMBER
1914
|
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POLITICAL
|
WESTERN
EUROPE
|
EASTERN
& SOUTHERN EUROPE
|
ASIA
& AFRICA
|
NAVAL
& MARITIME
|
|
TUESDAY
1st SEPTEMBER
|
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ALLIES
5th
- British, French, and Russian Governments
sign the "Pact of London." Decision not to
make separate peace (see April 26th,
October 19th, and November 30th, 1915).
FRANCE
2nd
- French Government transferred from Paris
to Bordeaux (see November 18th).
VATICAN
3rd
- Benedict XV elected Pope (see August
20th and November 5th).
ALBANIA
3rd
- Prince William of Wied leaves Albania
(see October 4th).
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WESTERN
FRONT
1st
- Lord Kitchener visits France to confer
with the British Commander-in-Chief.
1st
- Craonne taken by German forces (see May
4th, 1917). Soissons taken by German
forces (see 13th).
3rd
- Battle of the Mortagne ends (see
August 25th).
4th
- Battle of the Grand Couronne (Nancy)
begins (see 12th).
5th
- End of the Retreat from Mons
(see August 24th, 1914, and November 11th,
1918).
5th
- Battle of the Ourcq begins.
5th
- German forces reach Claye, 10 miles from
Paris (nearest point reached during the
war).
5th
- Reims taken by German forces (see 14th).
5th
- Lille evacuated by German forces (see
August 27th and October 12th).
6th
- Battle of the Marne begins (French
date) (see 9th and 10th).
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EASTERN
FRONT
2nd
- Battle of Zamosc-Komarow ends
(see August 26th).
3rd
- Lemberg captured by Russian forces (see
August 20th, 1914, and June 22nd, 1915).
5th
- Battle of the Masurian Lakes begins
(see 15th).
SERBIAN
FRONT
6th
- Serbian passage of the Save. Serbian
operations in Syrmia begin (see 11th).
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EAST
AFRICA
1st
- General J. Stewart takes over command of
British forces in East Africa (see October
31st).
5th
- German forces cross
frontier of North Rhodesia.
Defence of Abercorn begins (see 9th).
6th
- Affair of Tsavo.
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LAWS
OF NAVAL WAR
3rd
- French Government inform United States
Government that they will observe
"Declaration of London" subject to certain
modifications.
4th
- German Government agree to observe
"Declaration of London" if other
belligerents conform thereto, and issue
their list of contraband.
EMPIRE
TROOP MOVEMENTS
1st
- First unit of Indian Expeditionary Force
"C" arrives at Mombasa (see August 19th
and December 31st).
U-BOAT
WARFARE
5th
- H.M.S. "Pathfinder" sunk by submarine in
the North Sea (first British warship so
destroyed).
MINE
WARFARE
3rd
- H.M.S. "Speedy" sunk by mine off the
Humber.
PACIFIC
2nd
- Japanese forces land in Shantung, China
to attack German Tsingtau (see August
15th, September 23rd and November 7th).
|
|
MONDAY 7th
SEPTEMBER
|
|
DIPLOMACY
10th
- German and Austrian representatives
expelled from Egypt (see November 1st).
BRITAIN
13th
- British Government issue orders raising
third New Army of six divisions (see
11th).
TURKEY
9th
- Turkish Government announce abolition of
"The Capitulations."
|
WESTERN
FRONT
7th
- Maubeuge capitulates to German forces
(see August 25th, 1914 and November 8th,
1918).
9th
- German retreat from the Marne begins
(see 6th).
10th
- Battle of the Marne ends
(British date) (see 6th).
11th
- British Government issue orders for the
raising of the second New Army of six
divisions (see August 21st and September
13th).
12th
- Battle of the Grand Couronne (Nancy)
ends (see 4th).
12th
- Battle of the Aisne, 1914, begins
(see 15th).
13th
- Soissons (see 1st, and January 8th,
1915) and Amiens (see August 31st)
reoccupied by French forces.
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Battle
of the Masurian Lakes continues.
7th
- Battle of Tarnavka (Galicia) begins (see
9th).
8th
- Second Battle of Lemberg begins
(see 11th).
9th
- Battle of Tarnavka ends (see 7th).
11th
- Second Battle of Lemberg ends
(see 8th). Austrian forces in Galicia
retreat (see October 3rd).
SERBIAN
FRONT
8th
- Austrian forces begin second
invasion of Serbia (see August 25th
and December 15th). Battle of the Drina
begins (see 17th).
10th
- Semlin (Syrmia) occupied by Serbian
forces (see 17th).
11th
- Serbian advance in Syrmia abandoned (see
6th and 17th).
|
EGYPT
8th
- General Sir John Maxwell takes over
command of British forces in Egypt (see
March 19th, 1916).
EAST
AFRICA
9th
- Affairs near Karonga (Nyasaland). First
important fighting.
(link
to British despatch)
9th
- Defence of Abercorn (Rhodesia) ends.
German force retreats (see 5th).
PACIFIC
12th
- Affair of Herbertshohe (German New
Guinea) (see 11th and 17th).
Cameroons
Coast
|
EMPIRE
TROOP MOVEMENTS
9th
- First units of Indian Expeditionary
Force "A" arrive at Suez (see 19th).
CRUISER
WARFARE
10th
- German light cruiser "Emden" makes her
first capture in the Indian Ocean, Greek
collier "Pontoporos" (see 22nd, and
October 28th).
WEST
AFRICA (Plans - left and below)
7th
- Naval operations off Duala, German
Cameroons begin in preparation for attack
by Allied military forces (see 27th). (link
to British despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
Duala
and the Cameroons Estuary (Corbett, Vol 1,
pp276)
PACIFIC
11th
- Australian Expeditionary Force lands on
the Bismarck Archipelago, German New
Guinea.
|
|
MONDAY
14th SEPTEMBER
|
|
DIPLOMACY
19th
- British and French Governments guarantee
to Belgium the integrity of her colonies.
19th
- Secret agreement for mutual support
concluded between Russian and Rumanian
Governments.
GERMANY
14th
- General von Moltke resigns as Chief of
the General Staff of the German Field
Armies, and is succeeded by General von
Falkenhayn (see August 2nd, 1914, and
August 29th, 1916).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
14th
- Reims evacuated by German forces (see
5th and 19th).
15th
- Battle of the Aisne, 1914, ends
(see 12th).
19th
- First bombardment of Reims Cathedral by
German artillery (see 14th).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Retreat
of Austrian forces in Galicia continues..
15th
- Battle of the Masurian Lakes ends
(see 5th).
15th
- Czernowitz (Bukovina) taken by Russian
forces (see October 22nd).
18th
- General von Hindenburg appointed
Commander-in-Chief of German Armies in
Eastern Theatre (see August 23rd and
November 27th).
SERBIAN
FRONT
Second
Austrian Invasion of Serbia
17th
- Serbian forces in Syrmia withdrawn.
Semlin evacuated (see 8th).
17th
- Battle of the Drina ends (see 8th).
|
SOUTH
WEST AFRICA
19th
– Luderitzbucht occupied by South African
forces (first German territory to be
entered by Union troops.)
SOUTH
AFRICA
15th
- Rebellion in South Africa begins (see
December 1st and 28th)
PACIFIC
17th
- German New Guinea and surrounding
Colonies capitulate to Australian
Expeditionary Force (see 21st, and October
11th).(plan - below)
SS
"Cap Trafalgar"(Cyberheritage/
Terry Phillips)
German
New Guinea, with inset of Rabaul (Corbett,
Vol 1, pp286)
|
EMPIRE
TROOP MOVEMENTS
19th
- First units of Indian Expeditionary
Force "A" leave Egypt for Marseilles (see
9th).
CRUISER
WARFARE
14th
- Action between British armed merchant
cruiser "Carmania" and German armed
merchant cruiser "Cap Trafalgar" (left)
in the South Atlantic: latter sunk.
(link
to British despatch, awards and
casualties)
ADRIATIC
19th
- Cattaro bombarded by French squadron.
TURKEY
17th
- British Naval Mission leaves Turkey.
17th
- Admiral Souchon, Imperial German navy,
assumes control of Turkish navy.
EAST
AFRICA
20th
- H.M.S. "Pegasus" sunk by German light
cruiser "Konigsberg" at Zanzibar (see
October 31st, 1914, and July 11th, 1915).
|
|
MONDAY
21st SEPTEMBER
|
|
|
WESTERN
FRONT
21st
- Noyon retaken by French forces (see
25th, and August 26th).
22nd
- First Battle of Picardy begins
(see 26th).
24th
- Peronne taken by German forces (see
March 18th, 1917).
25th
- Noyon retaken by German forces (see
21st, and March 18th, 1917.
26th
- First Battle of Picardy ends
(see 22nd).
26th
- Bapaume occupied by German forces (see
March 17th, 1917).
27th
- Siege of Antwerp begins (see
October 10th).
27th
- First Battle of Artois begins
(see October 12th).
AVIATION
22nd
- First use of wireless telegraphy from
aeroplane to artillery (by British Royal
Flying Corps)
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Retreat
of Austrian forces in Galicia continues..
21st
- Jaroslaw (Galicia) taken by Russian
forces (see May 14th, 1915).
24th
- Przemysl isolated by Russian forces.
First siege begins (see October
9th).
24th
- Russian forces begin first invasion
of North Hungary (see October 8th).
25th
- Actions on the Niemen begin (see 29th).
SERBIAN
FRONT
Second
Austrian Invasion of Serbia continues.
|
WEST
AFRICA
27th
- Duala (Cameroons) captured by Allied
forces (26th/27th) (see 7th).
(link to British
despatches, RN awards and casualties)
HMS
"Cressy" (Cyberheritage/
Terry Phillips)
S.M.S.
"U.-9"(Photo
Ships)
PACIFIC
21st
- German armed forces in New Guinea
surrender to the Australian Expeditionary
Force (see 17th, and October 11th).
|
CONTRABAND
CONTROL
21st
- British Proclamation issued adding to
list of contraband (see August 4th and
December 23rd).
EMPIRE
TROOP MOVEMENTS
26th
- First units of Indian Expeditionary
Force "A" land at Marseilles (see 19th,
and October 19th).
CRUISER
WARFARE
22nd
- German light cruiser "Emden" bombards
Madras (see 10th, and October 28th).
U-BOAT
WARFARE
22nd
- H.M.S. "Aboukir," "Hogue," and "Cressy"
(left) sunk by German submarine "U.-9" (left)
NAVAL
AVIATION
22nd
- First British air raid on Germany:
Dusseldorf and Cologne airship sheds
attacked (see October 8th). (link
to British despatch)
PACIFIC
22nd
- Admiral von Spee's squadron bombards
Papeete in Tahiti (see August 6th and
November 1st).
23rd
- British force joins Japanese army before
Tsingtau. Force landed September 22nd; in
action September 24th (see 2nd, and
November 7th). (link
to British despatch)
|
|
MONDAY
28th SEPTEMBER
|
|
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
Siege
of Antwerp.
First
Battle of Artois.
28th
- Malines taken by German forces.
30th
- Arras reoccupied by French forces (see
August 29th).
AVIATION
28th
- Distinctive markings on German aircraft
first reported (see November 12th).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
Retreat
of Austrian forces in Galicia..
First
siege of Przemysl by Russian forces.
First
Russian
invasion of North Hungary.
29th
- German offensive on the Niemen abandoned
(see 25th).
SERBIAN
FRONT
Second
Austrian Invasion of Serbia continues.
|
MESOPOTAMIA
28th
- Lieut.-General
Sir A. Barrett appointed
Commander-designate of Indian
Expeditionary Force "D" for Mesopotamia
(see November 13th).
|
MERCHANT
SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral ships
lost to enemy submarines, mines and
cruisers etc in the month - 37 ships of
99,000 tons gross (Lloyd's War Losses)
|
|
OCTOBER
1914
|
|
POLITICAL
|
WESTERN
EUROPE
|
EASTERN
& SOUTHERN EUROPE
|
ASIA
& AFRICA
|
NAVAL
& MARITIME
|
|
THURSDAY
1st OCTOBER
|
|
ALBANIA
4th
- Provisional Government under Essad Pasha
set up in Albania at Durazzo (see February
24th, 1916).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
Siege
of Antwerp.
First
Battle of Artois.
2nd
- Termonde (Belgium) taken by German
forces.
3rd
- British army begins to leave the Aisne
and to move northwards (see 19th).
3rd
- Ypres occupied by German cavalry (see
13th).
4th
- Lens and Bailleul occupied by German
forces (see 14th, and September 3rd, 1918,
and August 30th, 1918).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
First
siege of Przemysl by Russian forces.
First
Russian
invasion of North Hungary.
3rd
- Retreat of Austro-Hungarian forces in
Galicia ends (see September 11th).
3rd
- Maramaros-Sziget taken by Russian forces
(see 7th).
4th
- Austro-Hungarian counter-offensive in
Galicia begins (see 3rd).
SERBIAN
FRONT
Second
Austrian Invasion of Serbia continues.
|
PALESTINE
FRONT
2nd
- Indian Expeditionary Force "E" formed in
Egypt from details of Indian
Expeditionary Force "A" (see August 24th,
1914, and March 25th, 1915).
|
EMPIRE
TROOP MOVEMENTS
3rd
- First contingents of Canadian and
Newfoundland Expeditionary Forces leave
for England (see 15th).
MINE
WARFARE
3rd
- Minelaying in the open sea, between the
Goodwins and Ostend, commenced by British
(see August 5th).
BELGIUM
3rd
- First units of British Royal Naval
Division, Marine Brigade, arrive at
Antwerp (3rd/4th).
|
|
MONDAY 5th
OCTOBER
|
|
BELGIUM
7th
- Belgian Government transferred from
Antwerp to Ostend (see August 17th and
October 12th and 13th).
RUMANIA
10th
- King Charles of Rumania dies, and is
succeeded by his son Ferdinand.
|
WESTERN
FRONT
First
Battle of Artois continues.
7th
- Evacuation of Antwerp begun.
8th
- General Foch appointed to command Allied
forces (less Belgians) defending the
Flanders coast (see May 15th, 1917).
9th
- Merville, Estaires, Armentieres, and
Hazebrouck taken by German forces (see
10th, 11th and 17th).
9th
(date approximate) - Menin occupied by
German forces (see October 15th, 1918).
9th
- Last forts of Antwerp taken by German
forces (see 10th, and September 27th).
10th
- Antwerp capitulates to German
forces (see 9th, and September 27th, 1914,
and November 19th, 1918).
10th
- Hazebrouck and Estaires captured by
British forces (see 9th).
10th
- Battle of La Bassée begins (see
November 2nd).
11th
- Merville retaken by British forces (see
9th, and April 11th, 1918).
AVIATION
8th
- Second British air raid on Germany
(Dusseldorf and Cologne airship sheds
attacked) (see September 22nd).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
7th
- Maramaros-Sziget retaken by Austrian
forces (see 3rd).
8th
- First Russian invasion of North
Hungary ends (see September 24th and
November 15th).
9th
- First German offensive against
Warsaw. Battles of Warsaw and Ivangorod
begin (see 19th and 20th).
9th
- Przemysl relieved by advancing
Austrian forces (see 4th). End of
First siege (see September 24th and
November 10th).
SERBIAN
FRONT
Second
Austrian Invasion of Serbia continues.
|
|
U-BOAT
WARFARE
11th
- Russian cruiser "Pallada" sunk by German
submarine off Hango in the Baltic.
BELGIUM
6th
- Units of British 7th Division disembark
at Ostend and Zeebrugge to co-operate with
Belgian army (see 12th). (link
to British despatch)
PANAMA
CANAL
10th
- Protocol signed by United States of
America and Panama as to use of Panama
Canal by ships of belligerent Powers.
PACIFIC
7th
- Japanese naval forces occupy Yap Island
(German).
11th
- German gunboat "Komet" (below as
HMAS "Una" - Australian War Memorial) captured
by H.M.A.S. "Nusa" near Talassia, Neu
Pommern. Last act of hostilities in
Australasian waters. Also last episode in
conquest of German Pacific possessions.
|
|
MONDAY
12th OCTOBER
|
|
BELGIUM
13th
- Belgian Government set up at Havre (see
7th, and November 21st, 1918).
ITALY
16th
- Marquis di San Giuliano, Italian Foreign
Minister (appointed March 24th, 1914) dies
(see November 3rd).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Battle
of La Bassée continues.
12th
- Battle of Messines, 1914, begins (see
November 2nd).
12th
- First Battle of Artois ends (see
September 27th).
12th
- Ostend and Zeebrugge evacuated by
Belgian forces (see 6th and 15th).
12th
- Lille capitulates to German forces (see
September 5th, 1914, and October 17th,
1918).
12th
- Ghent evacuated by Belgian forces and
occupied by German forces (see November
10th, 1918).
13th
- Battle of Armentieres begins (see
November 2nd).
13th
- Ypres reoccupied by Allied forces
retreating from Ghent (see 3rd and 19th).
14th
- Bailleul occupied by British forces (see
4th, and April 15th, 1918).
14th
- Bruges occupied by German forces (see
October 19th, 1918).
15th
- Belgian coast-line
reached by German forces (see October
20th, 1918).
15th - Zeebrugge
and Ostend occupied by German forces (see
12th, and October 17th and 19th, 1918).
16th
- Battle of the Yser begins (Belgian
date) (see November 10th).
17th
- Armentieres recaptured by Allied Forces
(see 9th, and April 11th, 1918).
18th
- Roulers taken by German forces (see
October 14th, 1918).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Battles
of Warsaw and Ivangorod continues.
13th
- Battle of Chyrow (Galicia) begins (see
November 2nd).
SERBIAN
FRONT
Second
Austrian Invasion of Serbia continues.
|
WEST
AFRICA
14th
- Yabasi (Cameroons) captured by Allied
forces.
Operations
in the Baltic (Corbett, Vol 3, pp61)
HM S/M
"E.-1"
(Navy Photos)
|
EMPIRE
TROOP MOVEMENTS
15th
- First units of Canadian and Newfoundland
Expeditionary Forces land in England (see
3rd, and February 9th, 1915).
16th
- Indian Expeditionary Force "B" leaves
India for East Africa (see 31st).
16th
- First units of Indian Expeditionary
Force "D" leave India for the Persian Gulf
(see 23rd).
16th
- New Zealand Expeditionary Force leaves
New Zealand for France (see December 1st).
17th
- First units of Australian Imperial Force
embark for France (see December 1st).
U-BOAT
WARFARE
13th
- First appearance of a German submarine
on the Southampton-Havre troop-transport
route reported.
15th
- H.M.S. "Hawke" sunk by German submarine
in North Sea.
17th
- German submarines attempt raid on Scapa
Flow (see 18th).
18th
- Grand Fleet withdraws from Scapa Flow to
West of Scotland (see 17th, and November
3rd).
NORTH
SEA
17th
- Action by H.M.S. "Undaunted" and
destroyers with four German destroyers off
Dutch coast; latter all sunk.
BELGIAN
COAST
18th
- First bombardment of Ostend by British
warships (see 15th). (for
Belgium coast, 1914-18, link to
British despatches, awards and
casualties)
BALTIC
(plan - left)
17th
- First British submarines, "E.-l"
(left) and "E.-9", enter the
Baltic.
PACIFIC
18th
- Japanese light cruiser "Takachiho" sunk
by German destroyer off Tsingtau.
|
|
MONDAY
19th OCTOBER
|
|
BRITAIN
25th
- General Sir C. Douglas, Chief of the
Imperial General Staff, Great Britain
(appointed April 6, 1914), dies (see
26th).
UNITED
STATES
22nd
- United States Government issue Circular
Note to belligerent Governments stating
that they will insist on existing rules of
International Law (see July 28th, 1916).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
Battle
of La Bassée.
Battle
of Messines.
Battle
of Armentieres.
Battle
of the Yser.
19th
- Battles of Ypres, 1914, begin
(see 31st, and November 22nd).
19th
- Transfer of British army from the Aisne
to Flanders completed (see 3rd).
19th
- First Indian units reach the Flanders
front (see September 26th, and November
10th, 1915).
21st
- Battle of Langemarck, 1914 (Ypres)
begins (see 24th).
24th
- Battle of Langemarck, 1914 (Ypres), ends
(see 21st).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Battle
of Chyrow (Galicia) continues.
19th
- Battle of Warsaw ends (see 9th).
20th
- Battle of Ivangorod ends (see
9th).
22nd
- Czernowitz (Bukovina) reoccupied by
Austrian forces (see 28th, and September
15th).
SERBIAN
FRONT
Second
Austrian Invasion of Serbia continues.
|
|
EMPIRE
TROOP MOVEMENTS
23rd
- Advanced troops of Indian Expeditionary
Force "D" arrive at the Bahrein Islands,
Persian Gulf (see 16th and November 6th).
U-BOAT
WARFARE
20th
- First merchant vessel sunk by German
submarine in North Sea, British
S.S. "Glitra" (see February 19th and March
13th and 28th, 1915).
|
|
MONDAY
26th OCTOBER
|
|
DIPLOMACY
29th
- Turkey commences hostilities against
Russia (see July 31st, and November 2nd
and 5th).
30th
- Allied Governments present ultimatum to
Turkey (see 29th).
30th
- Great Britain and France sever
diplomatic relations with Turkey. British
and French Ambassadors demand passports
(see 31st, and November 5th).
31st
- British Government issue orders for
hostilities to commence against Turkey
(see 30th, and November 1st and 5th).
31st
- Lord Kitchener sends to Sherif of Mecca
conditional guarantee of Arabian
independence (see July 14th, 1915).
BRITAIN
26th
- General Sir J. Wolfe Murray appointed
Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Great
Britain (see 25th, and September 25th,
1915).
ITALY
30th
- Italian Cabinet resign. New Cabinet
formed. Signor Salandra remains Premier
(previously appointed March 24th, 1914)
(see May 13th, 1915).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
Battle
of La Bassée.
Battle
of Messines.
Battle
of Armentieres.
Battle
of the Yser.
Battles
of Ypres, 1914:
29th
- Battle of Gheluvelt (Ypres) begins (see
31st).
31st
- Critical day of Battles of Ypres, 1914:
British line broken and restored (see
19th, and November 11th). Battle of
Gheluvelt ends (see 29th).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Battle
of Chyrow (Galicia) continues.
28th
- Czernowitz (Bukovina) reoccupied by
Russian forces (see 22nd, and February
17th, 1915).
30th
- Stanislau (Galicia) taken by Russian
forces (see February 19th, 1915).
SERBIAN
FRONT
Second
Austrian Invasion of Serbia continues:
30th
- Serbian forces begin retreat from the
line of the Drina (see November 30th).
|
WEST
AFRICA
26th
- German forces begin an unprovoked
invasion of Angola (Portuguese West
Africa) (see December 4th).
26th
- Edea (Cameroons) occupied by French
forces.
(link to British
despatches, RN awards and casualties)
EAST
AFRICA
31st
- General Stewart succeeded in command of
British forces in East Africa by General
Aitken (see September 1st and December
4th).
Delta
of the Rufigi River
HMS "Audacious"
(Maritime Quest)
|
CONTRABAND
CONTROL
29th
- New British Order in Council revises
list of contraband and modifies
"Declaration of London" of 1909 (see
August 20th, 1914, and July 7th, 1916).
ROYAL
NAVY
29th
- Prince Louis of Battenberg, First Sea
Lord, Great Britain, appointed December
9th, 1912, resigns (see 30th).
30th
- Lord Fisher appointed First Sea Lord,
Great Britain (see 29th, and May 15th,
1915).
EMPIRE
TROOP MOVEMENTS
31st
- First units of Indian Expeditionary
Force "B" arrive at Mombasa (see 16th, and
December 31st).
CRUISER
WARFARE
28th
- German cruiser "Emden" raids Penang
Roads and sinks Russian cruiser "Zhemchug"
(see September 10th and November 9th).
31st
- German light cruiser "Konigsberg"
located in Rufiji River (see July 11,
1915). (plan - left)
U-BOAT
WARFARE
31st
- H.M.S. "Hermes" sunk by German submarine
in Straits of Dover.
MINE
WARFARE
27th
- H.M.S. "Audacious" (left, sinking) sunk
by mine off coast of Donegal.
NORTH
SEA
30th
- British hospital ship "Rohilla" wrecked
off Whitby.
BLACK
SEA
29th
- Turkish warships bombard Odessa,
Sevastopol, and Theodosia.
MERCHANT
SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral ships
lost to enemy submarines, mines and
cruisers etc in the month - 36 ships of
92,000 tons gross (Lloyd's War Losses)
|
|
NOVEMBER
1914
|
|
POLITICAL
|
WESTERN
EUROPE
|
EASTERN
& SOUTHERN EUROPE
|
ASIA
& AFRICA
|
NAVAL
& MARITIME
|
|
SUNDAY 1st
NOVEMBER
|
|
DIPLOMACY
1st
- Great Britain and Turkey commence
hostilities (see 5th, and October 30th and
31st).
EGYPT
1st
- Martial law proclaimed in Egypt (see
September 10th and December 18th).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
Battle
of La Bassée.
Battle
of Armentieres.
Battle
of the Yser.
Battles
of Ypres, 1914.
1st
- Messines taken by German forces (see
June 7th, 1917).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Battle
of Chyrow (Galicia) continues.
SERBIAN FRONT
Continuing:
Second
Austrian Invasion of Serbia.
Serbian retreat from
the line of the Drina.
|
HMS
"Good Hope"(Photo
Ships)
|
PACIFIC
1st
– Battle of Coronel. H.M.S. "Good
Hope" (left) and "Monmouth" sunk
by Admiral von Spee's Squadron (see
September 22nd and December 8th).
(link
to battle summary and casualties)
|
|
MONDAY 2nd
NOVEMBER
|
|
DIPLOMACY
2nd
- Russia declares war on Turkey (see
October 29th).
2nd
- "State of War" commences between Serbia
and Turkey.
5th
- Great Britain and France formally
declare war on Turkey (see 1st and 11th,
and October 31st).
5th
- Great Britain annexes Cyprus.
6th
- Turkey severs diplomatic relations with
Belgium.
BRITAIN
4th
- Moratorium in Great Britain ends (see
August 2nd).
BELGIUM
5th
- Belgian Government reject Papal
mediation (see July 30th, 1915).
ITALY
3rd
- Baron Sonnino appointed Italian Foreign
Minister (see October 16th and 30th, 1914,
and May 13th, 1915).
INDIA
2nd
- Government of India announce immunity of
the Mussulman Holy Places during
hostilities with Turkey.
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WESTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
Battle
of the Yser
Battles
of Ypres, 1914
2nd
- Battles of Messines and Armentieres
end (see October 12th and 13th).
2nd
- Battle of La Bassée ends (see
October 10th).
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EASTERN
FRONT
2nd
- Battle of Chyrow ends (see
October 13th).
SERBIAN FRONT
Continuing:
Second
Austrian Invasion of Serbia.
Serbian retreat from
the line of the Drina.
|
CAUCASUS
FRONT
4th
- Russian forces cross
frontier of Turkey-in-Asia and
seize Azap (Armenia).
6th
- Keupri-Keui (Armenia) taken by Russian
forces (see 14th).
Lower
Mesopotamia to the Head of the Persian Gulf
(Corbett, Vol 1, pp394)
EAST
AFRICA
2nd
- British force begins attack on Tanga
(German East Africa) (see 5th).
3rd
- Northern frontier of German East Africa
first crossed by British troops. (Affair
of Longido.) (See August 15th.)
5th
- Attack on Tanga ends. British force
repulsed (see 2nd, and Julv 7th, 1916).
CHINA
7th
- Tsingtau capitulates to Japanese forces
(see September 2nd and 23rd, 1914, and
August 6th, 1915).
(link
to British despatch)
The
Dardanelles, (Corbett,
Vol 2, Plan No 4
(9.5Mb))
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CONTRABAND
CONTROL
6th
- French Government issue declaration
modifying list of contraband (see August
25th, 1914, and January 3rd, 1915).
EMPIRE
TROOP MOVEMENTS
2nd
- First units of Indian Expeditionary
Force "F" leave India for Egypt (see
16th).
6th
- Advanced troops of Indian Expeditionary
Force "D" effect landing in Mesopotamia at
Fao (see 22nd, and October 23rd). (plan
- left)
CRUISER
WARFARE
4th
- German cruiser "Karlsruhe" sunk in the
Atlantic by internal explosion (see August
6th).
U-BOAT
WARFARE
3rd
- Grand Fleet ordered back to Scapa Flow
(see October 18th, 1914, and November
21st, 1918).
MINE
WARFARE
4th
- German cruiser "Yorck" sunk by mine off
the German coast.
NORTH
SEA
2nd
- British Admiralty declare the North Sea
a military zone.
BRITISH
COASTAL RAID
3rd
- First German naval raid on British coast
near Gorleston and Yarmouth.
DARDANELLES
(plan - left and below)
3rd
- Allied squadrons bombard forts at
entrance of the Dardanelles (see December
13th).
6th
- British submarine "B.-11"
proceeds two miles up the Dardanelles.
First warship to enter Straits. (See
December 13th). (link
to British despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
Dardanelles
Approaches
PACIFIC
2nd
- Austrian cruiser "Kaiserin Elizabeth"
sunk in Tsingtau harbour.
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MONDAY 9th
NOVEMBER
|
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TURKEY
11th
- The Sheikh ul Islam issues Fatwa
declaring Jehad (Holy War) against all the
Allies (see 2nd, 5th, and 14th).
14th
- Sultan of Turkey as Khalif proclaims
Jehad against those making war on Turkey
or her allies (see 11th).
JAPAN
14th
- Japanese Cabinet decide against despatch
of troops or warships to Europe (see
February 8th, 1916, and April 17th, 1917).
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WESTERN
FRONT
Battles
of Ypres, 1914 continues.
10th
- Battle of the Yser ends (French
date) (see October 16th).
10th
- Dixmude stormed by German forces (see
September 29th, 1918).
11th
- Battle of Nonneboschen (Ypres). Attack
by German Guard repulsed (see 22nd, and
October 19th and 31st).
14th
- Field-Marshal Earl Roberts
dies in France.
AVIATION
12th
- Orders issued for all British aeroplanes
on Western front to bear distinguishing
marks (see September 28th).
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EASTERN
FRONT
10th
- Przemysl again isolated by
Russian forces (see October 9th).
Second Siege begins (see March 22nd,
1915).
11th
(date approximate) - Memel (East Prussia)
occupied by Russian forces (see February
17th, 1915).
15th
- Battle of Cracow begins (see
December 2nd).
15th
- Second Russian invasion of North
Hungary begins (see October 8th and
December 12th).
SERBIAN FRONT
Continuing:
Second
Austrian Invasion of Serbia.
Serbian retreat from
the line of the Drina.
|
CAUCASUS
FRONT
14th
- Keupri-Keui (Armenia) retaken by Turkish
forces (see 6th).
MESOPOTAMIAN
FRONT
13th
- Lieut.-General
Sir A. Barrett takes over command of
Indian Expeditionary Force "D" in
Mesopotamia (see September 28th, 1914, and
April 9th, 1915).
15th
- Affair of Saihan.
Cocos Islands: Action
between "Sydney" and "Emden" (Corbett,
Vol 1, pp394)
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LAWS
OF NAVAL WAR
13th
- Dutch Government protest against
modifications of the Declaration of London
(see October 29th).
NAVAL
PRIZES
9th
- British and French Governments conclude
convention as to naval "prizes" (see
August 6th, 1914, and January 15th, 1917).
CRUISER
WARFARE
9th
- German cruiser "Emden" (below - Great
War) destroyed by H.M.A.S. "Sydney"
at the Cocos Islands (see October 28th).
(link
to British despatch, awards and
casualties) (plan - left)
9th
- German gunboat "Geier" interned at
Honolulu.
U-BOAT
WARFARE
11th
- H.M.S. "Niger" sunk by German submarine
off Deal.
RED
SEA
10th
- British force storms Sheikh Said
(Southern Arabia) and destroys the
defences (10th/11th)
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MONDAY
16th NOVEMBER
|
|
DIPLOMACY
20th
- British, Belgian, and French Governments
withdraw proposal for neutralisation of
African free trade zone in view of altered
situation (see August 22nd).
FRANCE
18th
- Re-transfer of French Government from
Bordeaux to Paris begins (see September
2nd).
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WESTERN
FRONT
22nd
- Battles of Ypres, 1914, end (see
October 19th, 31st, and November 11th,
1914, and April 22nd, 1915).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
Second
Russian Siege of Przemysl.
Battle
of Cracow.
Second
Russian invasion of North Hungary.
16th
- Second German offensive against
Warsaw. Battle of Lodz begins (see
December 15th).
SERBIAN FRONT
Continuing:
Second
Austrian Invasion of Serbia.
Serbian
retreat from the line of the Drina.
|
CAUCASUS
FRONT
22nd
- Keupri-Keui (Armenia) again taken by
Russian forces (see 14th, and December
17th).
MESOPOTAMIAN
FRONT
17th
- Affair of Sahil
EAST
AFRICA
22nd
- War Office assume control of the British
operations in East Africa.
Lower
Mesopotamia
|
EMPIRE
TROOP MOVEMENTS
16th
- First units of Indian Expeditionary
Force "F" land in Egypt (see 2nd, and
March 25th, 1915).
MINE WARFARE
17th
- German cruiser "Friedrich Karl" sunk by
mine in the Baltic.
NAVAL
AVIATION
21st
- British naval air raid on
Friedrichshaven.
BALTIC
17th
- Libau (Baltic) bombarded by German
squadron (see August 2nd).
BLACK
SEA
17th
– Trebizond bombarded by Russian squadron
(see April 6th, 1916).
MESOPOTAMIA
(Plans - left and below)
22nd
- Basra occupied by British forces (see
6th). Formal occupation took place on the
23rd. (link to British
despatches, RN awards and casualties)
Operations
near Basra (Corbett, Vol 1,
pp388)
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MONDAY
23rd NOVEMBER
|
|
PORTUGAL
23rd
- Portuguese Government announce
prospective co-operation of Portugal with
Great Britain (see August 8th, 1916).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
Second
Russian Siege of Przemysl.
Battle
of Cracow.
Second
Russian invasion of North Hungary.
Battle
of Lodz.
27th
- General von Hindenburg promoted Field-Marshal
(see September 18th, 1914, and August
29th, 1916).
SERBIAN FRONT
Continuing:
Second
Austrian Invasion of Serbia .
Serbian
retreat from the line of the Drina.
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INDIA
28th
- Affair of Miranshah (North-West Frontier
of India) (28th/29th). (First outbreak on
North-West Frontier caused by German
intrigues.)
|
CONTRABAND
CONTROL
23rd
- Netherlands Overseas Trust formed (see
June 3rd, 1915).
ROYAL
NAVY
26th
- H.M.S. "Bulwark" (below in 1904 -
Maritime Quest) destroyed by
internal explosion in Sheerness harbour.
|
|
MONDAY
30th NOVEMBER
|
|
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
Second
Russian Siege of Przemysl.
Battle
of Cracow.
Second
Russian invasion of North Hungary.
Battle
of Lodz.
30th
- Battle of Lowicz-Sanniki begins (see
December 17th).
SERBIAN
FRONT
Second
Austrian Invasion of Serbia continues:
30th
- Belgrade evacuated by retreating Serbian
forces (see October 30th).
|
|
MERCHANT
SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral ships
lost to enemy submarines, mines and
cruisers etc in the month - 20 ships of
20,000 tons gross (Lloyd's War Losses)
|
|
DECEMBER
1914
|
|
POLITICAL
|
WESTERN
EUROPE
|
EASTERN
& SOUTHERN EUROPE
|
ASIA
& AFRICA
|
NAVAL
& MARITIME
|
|
TUESDAY
1st DECEMBER
|
|
DIPLOMACY
3rd
- British Government agree to Japanese
request that Australia should not occupy
German islands north of the Equator (see
16th).
5th - Entente demarche
in Athens, Sofia, and Bukharest to
secure help for Serbia (see 6th, and
January 24th, 1915). Serbian Government declare
that Serbia will never make peace without
Allied consent.
6th
- Rumanian Government decline to guarantee
Greece against German attack (see 5th).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
Second
Russian Siege of Przemysl.
Second
Russian invasion of North Hungary.
Battle
of Lodz.
Battle
of Lowicz-Sanniki.
1st
- Battle of Limanova-Lapanov begins (see
17th).
2nd
- Battle of Cracow ends (see
November 15th).
SERBIAN
FRONT
Second
Austrian Invasion of Serbia continues:
2nd
- Austrian forces cross the Danube and
occupy Belgrade (see 15th, and November
30th).
3rd
- Battle of the Kolubara (Serbia) begins
(see 6th).
6th
- Battle of the Kolubara ends. Austrian
forces routed by the Serbians and driven
northwards (see 3rd).
|
MESOPOTAMIAN
FRONT
4th
- First action of Qurna begins (see 8th).
(link to British
despatches, RN awards and casualties)
WEST
AFRICA
4th
- Portuguese Expeditionary Force leaves
Lisbon for Angola (see October 26th, 1914,
and August 8th, 1916).
SOUTH
AFRICA
1st
- General de Wet, the leader of South
African rebellion, captured by Union
troops (see 28th, and September 15th).
EAST
AFRICA
4th
- General Wapshare succeeds General Aitken
in command of the British forces in East
Africa: latter recalled (see October 31st
and November 5th, 1914, and April 16th,
1915).
|
EMPIRE
TROOP MOVEMENTS
1st
- First units of Australian and New
Zealand Expeditionary Forces arrive at
Suez (see October 10th and 17th, 1914, and
February 20th and April 25th, 1915).
|
|
MONDAY 7th
DECEMBER
|
| |
|
|
|
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|
PORTUGAL
11th
- Dr. B. L. Machado Guimaraes, Portuguese
Premier, resigns (appointed June 23rd,
1914) (see 12th).
12th
- Senhor V. H. d'Azevedo Coutinho
appointed Portuguese Premier (see 11th,
and January 25th, 1915).
VATICAN
7th
- British Envoy (Sir H. Howard) appointed
to the Vatican.
TURKEY
10th
- Field-Marshal
von der Goltz leaves Germany to take over
control of the Turkish Army (see November
24th. 1910, and April 19th, 1916).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
Second
Russian Siege of Przemysl.
Battle
of Lodz.
Battle
of Lowicz-Sanniki.
Battle
of Limanova-Lapanov.
12th
- Second Russian invasion of North
Hungary ends (see November 15th).
SERBIAN
FRONT
Second
Austrian Invasion of Serbia continues.
|
MESOPOTAMIAN
FRONT
8th
- First action of Qurna ends (see 4th).
9th
- Qurna occupied by British forces (see
8th).(link to British
despatches, RN awards and casualties)
|
SOUTH
ATLANTIC
8th
- Battle of the Falklands. Admiral
von Spee's squadron destroyed.
"Scharnhorst," (below - Photo Ships) "Gneisenau,"
"Leipzig," and "Nürnberg"
sunk. Admiral von Spee killed (see
November 1st). "Dresden" escapes (see
March 14th. 1915).
(link
to British despatch, awards and
casualties)
DARDANELLES
13th
- Turkish battleship "Messoudieh" sunk by
British submarine "B 11" (see November
6th). (link
to British despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
BLACK
SEA
10th
- Batum, Georgia bombarded by the "Goeben"
and "Breslau."
|
|
MONDAY
14th DECEMBER
|
|
DIPLOMACY
16th
- Japanese Foreign Minister declares Japan
will not give up German islands occupied
north of the Equator (see 3rd, and
February 14th, 1917).
18th
- Meeting of Scandinavian Kings at Malmo.
18th
- British Protectorate over Egypt
proclaimed.
19th
- Great Britain declares adherence to
Franco-Moorish Treaty of 1912.
19th
- British Government declare Khedive Abbas
Hilmi deposed, and proclaim Prince Hussein
Kamel Pasha as Sultan of Egypt (see
October 9th, 1917).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
14th
- Allied demonstrations on Flanders front
begin. Attack on Wytschaete.
20th
- First Battle of Champagne begins
(see March 17th, 1915).
20th
- British defence of Givenchy, 1914
(20th/21st).
AVIATION
15th
- German airship sighted off East Coast of
England (first appearance of hostile
aircraft in vicinity of British Isles (see
21st)
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Second
Russian Siege of Przemysl continues.
15th
- Battle of Lodz ends (see
November 16th).
17th
- Battle of Lowicz-Sanniki ends
(see November 30th).
17th
- Battle of Limanova-Lapanov ends
(see 1st).
19th
- Battle of the Rawka-Bzura begins.
(This battle had no definite end;
operations subsided into trench warfare.)
SERBIAN
FRONT
15th
- Belgrade occupied by Serbian forces (see
2nd). End of Second Austrian Invasion
of Serbia (see October 6th and 9th,
1915).
|
CAUCASUS
FRONT
17th
- Turkish Offensive in the Caucasus
begins. Keupri-Keui (Armenia) retaken (see
29th, November 22nd, 1914, and January
17th, 1916).
The
Raid on the Yorkshire Coast (Corbett, Vol
2, Plan No 2 (6.4Mb))
Strategical
Plan of the Raid on the Yorkshire Coast (Corbett,
Vol 2, pp48)
|
CRUISER
WARFARE
14th
- German armed merchant cruiser "Cormoran"
(ex-Russian S.S. "Ryasan") interned at
Guam.
BRITISH
COASTAL RAID (Plans - left and
below)
16th
- Scarborough and Hartlepool, East coast
of England, bombarded by German battle
cruiser squadron.
(link
to British despatch, awards and
casualties, including minesweeping
operations)
Bombardment of Hartlepool (Corbett, Vol 2,
pp34)
|
|
MONDAY
21st DECEMBER
|
|
|
WESTERN
FRONT
First
Battle of Champagne continues.
26th
- Garibaldi's Italian Foreign Legion in
action for first time on French front.
AVIATION
21st
- First German air raid on England.
Aeroplane drops bombs in sea near Dover
(see 24th, January 19th, 1915, and July
20th and August 5th, 1918).
24th
- Second air raid on England (see 21st).
First bomb dropped on English soil (near
Dover).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Second
Russian Siege of Przemysl continues..
|
EAST
AFRICA
21st
- Jasin occupied by British forces (see
January 18th and 19th, 1915).
|
CONTRABAND
CONTROL
23rd
- British Proclamation issued containing
revised list of contraband (see September
21st, 1914, and March 11th, 1915).
NAVAL
AVIATION
25th
- British seaplane raid on Cuxhaven.
ADRIATIC
26th
- Italian force lands at Valona (Albania);
Italy notifies Austria of provisional
occupation (see May 29th, 1915).
|
|
MONDAY
28th DECEMBER
|
|
DIPLOMACY
30th
- Russian Commander-in-Chief (Grand Duke
Nicholas) suggests a British expedition
against the Turks to ease Russian
situation in the Caucasus (see January
13th, 1915).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
First
Battle of Champagne continues.
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Second
Russian Siege of Przemysl
continues.
|
CAUCASUS
FRONT
29th
- Battle of Sarikamish begins (see 17th,
and January 2nd, 1915).
SOUTH
AFRICA
28th
- End of organised rebellion in South
Africa (see September 15th, 1914, and
January 11th, 1915).
EAST
AFRICA
31st
- Indian Expeditionary Force "C" (East
Africa) absorbed into Indian Expeditionary
Force "B" (see September 1st and October
31st).
|
CONTRABAND
CONTROL
29th
- British Government send memorandum to
United States Government in defence of
British blockade policy.
MERCHANT
SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral ships
lost to enemy submarines, mines and
cruisers etc in the month - 26 ships of
49,000 tons gross. Total since outbreak
of war - 165 ships of 324,000 tons gross
(Lloyd's War Losses)
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